Cockatiel Behavior

One cockatiel behavior that you should know is that they charming and affectionate pets. They are very playful and enjoy mental stimulation. They communicate using their voice and their behavior. Therefore, understanding their behavior and interacting with them are important things to do when taking care of them. Do these and make your bird’s life as enjoyable as possible. In return, you will have the pleasure of having a happy pet who will give you moments of fun and enjoyment.

Some normal cockatiel behaviors are bobbing of the head, scratching and grinding of the beak, hanging upside down and wagging of its tail. There’s nothing to be afraid of when you have observed these behaviors. It only means, they’re happy and simply enjoying their life. Grinding their beaks is normally observed from cockatiels before they go to sleep. It only indicates that they’re relaxed and sleepy. Wagging their tail, on the other hand, signifies that something nice or someone they like caught their attention. Sometimes, cockatiels would also hang upside down like a bat. This may seem weird but they’re only playing and exercising their wings. They will also do this to block the entrance of their cage due to their natural instinct to protect their nest.

Apart from these normal behaviors, it is important to watch out for alarming cockatiel behaviors. One of the most common body language you will notice is cockatiels moving their crest on the top of their heads. There are times that they get scared and tend to straighten their crests up high just like humans when we raise our eyebrows or enlarge our eyes when scared and afraid. It can be that you have other pets in your home such as a dog or a cat, or even a certain object that makes them feel uncertain. This can be something that they are seeing outside or inside your house.

Another cockatiel behavior that an owner should learn is when cockatiels get mad or frustrated, what they usually do is flatten their crest against its head – and when this happens, avoid being too close to his cage as he may nibble any parts of your body if you get too close. Try to back off from his cage a little bit and start speaking softly to your bird just to show that you do not have any intentions of harming or hurting him.

Another cockatiel behavior that your bird might do is screaming. There are different reasons behind this behavior – it can either be because his environment has changed or maybe the ambiance is too loud for your bird. Rarer than the reasons above, another odd reason that your pet might start screaming is because it feels like you are about to leave him entirely alone. If not given enough sleep, your bird can be in a foul mood and starts screaming because of this. Always ensure that your cockatiel gets ten to twelve hours of sleep.

There will be times that your bird might make grinding noises using its beak which can be frightening for some owners – you need not worry – this could either mean that your bird is really joyful or just a little bit tired and sleepy – another cockatiel behavior that you should know of.

Lastly, check your pet’s feet – if it’s warm, your bird is healthy and happy, but if not – it can be that your pet is sad, upset or scared.